Dave Horobin's Reviews
Batman Arkham Knight is a magnificent and fitting end to the Arkham series of games in every possible way. The city of Gotham is a huge, spectacular playground for you to explore, the story sucks you in despite it's inevitable outcome, and the combat and stealth elements that brought Arkham Asylum to everyone's attention have never been better.The game does have its faults; a couple of times it completely froze after navigating to the dashboard, framerate drops occur occasionally, and the Batmobile whilst brilliant for navigating the city is overused and repetitive in tank battles, but that can easily be forgiven when the rest of the experience is as good as it is. For anyone who likes Batman, the previous releases in the franchise, or open world games in general, Arkham Knight is an absolute must play, and offers a genuine reason for gamers who haven't yet made the jump to the new generation of consoles to seriously consider making the switch.
By this stage, it should come as no surprise that Playground Games finds a way to raise the bar for each release in the Horizon series, and they've once again found another gear in Forza Horizon 4 that leaves its competitors trailing in the dust.
Quite simply, Forza Horizon 3 is the pinnacle of open-world racers available on the Xbox One.
Inside is a game that has to be experienced first-hand to be understood and I’d urge everyone to play it. At three to four hours it is on the short side, but thanks to the thought provoking and surprising story, tight gameplay and exceptional sound and visual design, Inside will leave a long lasting impression that will more than make it worth its price tag.
Red Dead Redemption 2's vast, detailed and stunningly beautiful open world sits as the perfect backdrop for its compelling and well-paced story filled with epic set pieces. With deeper gameplay mechanics, a larger cast of diverse and interesting characters to meet, and a wealth of content from side objectives to mini-games, RDR2 is a shining example of what makes Rockstar's games so special.
Whilst the multiplayer falls short, the co-op and in particular the single player experience is once again brilliantly put together and something gamers shouldn't miss out on.
The question isn't if Sledgehammer succeeded in breathing new life into the Call of Duty franchise, it's more a point of how the franchise will cope in the future without them.
It might have taken a while for Rocket League to appear on the Xbox One, but the wait was worth it.
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition stands as a shining example of how a remaster should be done. From the ground up the game has been redesigned to make it look and feel perfectly at home on the Xbox One, and The Coalition have managed to combine remaining true to the original game, whilst at the same time adding improvements. By staying true to the original Gears there are moments where the game shows its age, but they aren't frequent enough to spoil the overall experience, and you'll be more surprised by how well the story and gameplay mechanics stand up to today's standards, and quiet often over shadow them.If you're not a fan of third person shooters or the previous Gears of War games, there's nothing for you here, but for everyone else the name says it all, this is the Ultimate way to experience Gears of War, whether you're a newcomer to the franchise, or if you're looking for any excuse to return to Sera and chainsaw Locust's into tiny pieces, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a must play.
Halo 5: Guardians is the game that 343 Industries needed to release to regain the confidence of gamers in both themselves and the Halo franchise. The campaign is a fast, action packed battle through a host of beautifully designed locations, that offers brilliant pacing and some stunning set pieces. The story may well be confusing – especially for newcomers – and many characters are sadly lacking in depth, but that doesn't detract from how fun shooting your way through the game's fifteen missions is when playing solo and even more so with three friends. The multiplayer stays true to the core elements that have made Halo what is today, whilst at the same time adding new mechanics that bring it in line with what you'd expect to see from a modern first-person shooter. The addition of Warzone alone will keep you coming back for more as every game feels different and unique.If you own an Xbox One and have any interest in first-person shooters, Halo 5: Guardians is quite simply a must play.
Forza Motorsport 6 isn't for everyone and the chances are that you will know in advance if this is the type of game that you would like to try. For those of you that have even the slightest interest in cars or racing, you'll be treated to some of the finest, most immersive racing action that you can find short of doing the real thing. With a wide choice of assists and difficulties available, it's ideal for both newcomers and hardcore racing fans alike.There are certainly improvements that Turn 10 could make, such as dynamic time of day and weather and a less linear career mode that allowed access to better cars earlier. However, they are very minor annoyances that can be easily overlooked due to the quality of everything else that the game has to offer. With stunningly detailed visuals, sound and physics to match, a huge roster of cars to drive, and new wet and night races that add another dimension to the gameplay, this is a bigger and better Forza than we have ever seen before. Forza Motorsport 6 is a masterpiece of a racing simulator that really has to be experienced to be believed.
If the enticement of better loot and stat optimization catches hold of you however, there's a chance that The Division may well become your next addiction, especially if Ubisoft and Massive can keep a steady stream of updates and DLC coming.
As one Bethesda employee put it: "If you're not into violent, bloody games… DOOM's probably not a game for you". For everyone else, it's impossible not to recommend trying the title. The campaign is where DOOM really shines with its fast-paced, slick, brutally bloody and exhilarating action that mixes old-school gameplay with modern design. The multiplayer is solid if not spectacular, but that may change in time once the game's community begins to experiment with the creation tools in SnapMap. DOOM is back and it's hellishly good.
Assassin's Creed Syndicate is thankfully a fine return to form for the franchise. The combination of an interesting and diverse cast of characters and the entertaining and compelling story sit perfectly in the beautifully recreated 1860's London. It doesn't do everything to solve all the series' problems, missions can feel repetitive and there are some minor AI bugs that will shatter the sense of immersion occasionally, but by taking a step backwards and removing much of the excess baggage that the series has accumulated over the years of annual releases, Syndicate has become the best Assassin's Creed since Brotherhood.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided provides an interesting and at times thought provoking story which is set in a detailed and immersive world that is begging to be explored.
Titanfall 2 is everything for which you could possibly wish to find in a sequel, answering all of the negatives of its predecessor. While short in length, the campaign is an exhilarating ride that showcases everything that made the first game feel so refreshing, and the refined multiplayer will keep you consumed for months to come. This title is a must own for any first-person shooter fan.
Battlefield 1’s campaign provides an emotional and thought provoking look at the horrors of World War 1, while at the same time providing varied gameplay and an interesting cast of characters to help make this the best Battlefield single-player experience in a long while. The multiplayer remains as strong as ever, providing an action-packed and enthralling experience that provides a welcome evolution to the already successful formula.
Forza Horizon 3 was already the pinnacle of racing games; the stunning new environment, refreshingly challenging handling and difficult weather conditions just highlight that fact even further. It is an essential purchase for anyone looking to expand their Forza Horizon 3 experience.
FIFA 18 offers the best game of football that the series has seen in some time and provides the best overall package for fans of the sport. It might not be up there in terms of authenticity with PES on the pitch, but this year's release has made up some ground, excelling at providing those wow moments that gets fans of the real sport on their feet and punching the air.
Origins provides a much-needed change in direction for the Assassin's Creed franchise.